The Tiny Internet Project, Part III

In a previous article, I introduced
the Tiny Internet Project, a
self-contained Linux project that shows you how to build key pieces
of the internet on a single computer using virtualization software,
a router and free open-source applications. In the second
installment,
I explained how to set up the host server using Proxmox and build a first basic Ubuntu
14.04 virtual machine. In this third installment, you'll learn how to
set up an Ubuntu mirror, a DNS server, a mail server and a web server.

As you finished with Part
II, you hopefully had just booted a raw Ubuntu 14.04 server
VM. Now, I'll describe how to customize that VM with some user accounts and software,
keeping it fairly generic, but ready to become a template for most
everything else you'll build.

Initially, you'll do all your work from the Proxmox web interface on
your Proxmox server: https://10.128.1.2:8006.

Log in and start the Ubuntu VM you made, which probably was named "100
(ubuntu)". Wait a moment for it to boot, and click the Proxmox Console
button to launch what is essentially a web-based terminal.

Figure 1. Ubuntu Installation Screen—Selecting Your
Language

When the shell opens, you'll see the Ubuntu installation screens. Select
your language and choose "Install Ubuntu Server" from the action
list. You'll be prompted again for language choices and keyboard layouts;
choose the ones that suit your needs. The installer will detect your
network and prompt you to enter a hostname.

Figure 2. Entering a Hostname

Since you'll be making this VM a template, give the machine a generic
hostname like "ubuntu". That way, if you later deploy a different type
of server (say, ArchLinux), you'll easily be able to tell them apart.

When
you're asked to create a user name, choose something that follows a naming
convention you can use for all future users, such as your first initial
and your full last name. Then when you need to figure out user
names (and email addresses) later, you won't have to guess.

Figure 3. Selecting a User Name

Provide a password, add encryption if you like, set your time zone and
proceed to the disk partitioning.

When you first created this VM under Proxmox, you gave it a main virtual
disk, which is what the Ubuntu installer now sees. Select "Guided
— use entire disk", not the default with the LVM option. Accept the
configuration and then write the changes to disk.

John S. Tonello is Director of IT for NYSERNet, Inc., in Syracuse, New
York. He's been a Linux user and enthusiast since he installed his first Slackware
system from diskette 20 years ago. You can follow him @johntonello.